Monday, February 03, 2014

Ind. Law - More on "How much snooping is too much?" [Updated]

Jim Shella of WISH TV has a post headed "Indiana House passes bill to restrict drones" that does not identify the bill or the author, but begins:

State lawmakers took action Monday to limit the ability of the police to conduct video surveillance using a drone.

The one-sided vote in the House of Representatives was 85-to-11 for a bill that would require a search warrant for the use of a drone-mounted camera over private property.

Rep. Speedy has issued this press release:

STATEHOUSE — A bill authored by State Representative Mike Speedy (R-Indianapolis) concerning unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement passed the Indiana House of Representatives Thursday by a vote of 87-3.

House Bill 1384 prohibits a police officer from downloading information from a telecommunications device such as a cell phone without the owner’s consent, unless otherwise authorized by a search warrant or similar measure.

Police officers are currently prohibited from outright confiscating telecommunications devices, but there is no such provision stopping police officers from forcing citizens to turn over information on the phone without consent. Rep. Speedy has worked to make sure the liberties of Hoosiers are progressing as fast as these emerging technologies.

“Protecting the privacy of personal property should be near the top of every legislator’s list of priorities, for the price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” said Rep. Speedy. “House Bill 1384 just further enforces that Indiana has a strong interest in safeguarding its citizens against unwarranted searches and seizures.”

[Updated within minutes] Niki Kelly of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazetteposted this story at noon today on HB 1009 (which appears to be the bill referenced by Jim Shella, above). Some quotes:

The Indiana House voted 85-11 Monday to curtail the use of electronic surveillance or data-collecting by police unless under a search warrant or during an emergency such as a terrorist attack.